Cigarette lighter



June 24,l 1969 H. BRoss l CIGARETTE LIGHTER Sheet f Filed July 25. 1967 FIGA FIG. 3

FIG.2

Helmun 3'055/1 .3 r 58 JMU/t 5 F Httovmst June 24,1969 e HBROSS 3,451,761

CIGARETTE LIGHTER l A Filed July 25, 1967 v e sheet l' Helwm Bross 35: PMM e 42W' Rttovn e155 United States Patent O 3,451,761 CIGARETTE LIGHTER Helmut Bross, Biberttalstrasse 24, Altenberg near Nuremberg 2, Germany Filed July 25, 1967, Ser. No. 655,786 Claims priority, application Germany, July 25, 1966,

` B 88,162; Oct. 7, 1966, B 89,238

Int. Cl. F23q 2/08 U.S. Cl. 431--131 23 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a square-shaped cigar or cigarette lighter which is provided with a movable cover, preferably a hinged cover, the opening movement of which is adapted to effect the ignition of the fuel and may also open a gas valve, if provided.

In most conventional lighters, the cover serves solely for covering the ignition device and the actual fuel nozzle. For operating such a lighter, the cover must be pivoted upwardly to a fully open position and then interferes with the igniting operation. Also, in most conventional lighters the operation of the ignition device requires an additional manipulation after the cover has been opened.

Among the conventional lighters there also are socalled spring-cover lighters in which the ignition operation is effected `by the opening movement of the cover. However, even in these lighters the upwardly pivoted cover interferes with the ignition operation. Furthermore, there are several manipulations required since the spring cover must first be released and subsequently be pivoted back to its closed position. A further disadvantage of such lighters is the fact that the cover may sometimes be released and flip open unintentionally.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighter which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages, is very practical and may particularly be manipulated very easily. These advantages are attained according to the invention by providing the lighter with a cover which is preferably pivotable and may Ibe lifted at one or both sides by a pressure upon a lateral actuating side, preferably one whichis provided with a good gripping surface, and by providing this cover `with a ilame outlet opening which is located directly above the fuel nozzle when the cover is partily opened, and wherein this cover is provided at the inside thereof with suitable elements which, when the cover is being lifted, actuate the ignition device and, if provided, also a fuel valve.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of releasable stop means which limit the extent to which the cover is normally opened for the operation of the ignition device and which may by an additional pressure upon the cover in the upward direction be released so as to permit the cover to be opened entirely in order to permit the lighter to be cleaned and repaired, if necessary.

These and numerous other features and advantages o-f the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates the lighter while being operated;

3,451,761 Patented June 24, 1969 ICC FIGURE 2 shows a longitudinal section of the hinged lighter cover with the lighter elements therein;

FIGURE 3 shows a cross section of the lighter cover according to FIGURE 2 and the lighter elements therein;

FIGURE 4 shows a longitudinal section of the upper part of a lighter according to a modification of the invention;

FIGURE 5 shows a longitudinal section of the upper part of a lighter according to another modification of the invention;

FIGURE 6 shows a longitudinal section of the upper lighter part according to a further modification of the invention; i

FIGURE 7 shows a cross section of the lighter according to FIGURE 6, but without the cover;

FIGURE 8 shows a longitudinal section of the upper lighter part according to a further modification of the invention;

FIGURE 9 shows a longitudinal section of the upper lighter part according to a further modification of the invention;

FIGURE 10 shows a cross section of the lighter according to FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 shows a longitudinal section of a further modification of the invention;

FIGURE 12 shows a partial longitudinal section of another modification of the invention;

FIGURE 13 shows a cross section of a lighter cover with a flame opening which is adapted to be closed;I while FIGURE 14 shows a longitudinal section of still another rnodiiications of the invention.

In FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the lighter is illustrated while being .actuated by hand. The lower part 1 of the lighter carries a cover 2 which is hinged to the lower part at 3 and the narrow -side 4 of which serving as an actuating surface is knurled or roughened to provide a good gripping surface for the thumb of the operator.`

This actuating surface 4 may also be provided with a layer of a material with a high coetiicient of friction. The top wall 5 of the cover is provided with an opening 7 which serves as a passage for the llame of the lighter. When the Cover 2 is pivoted upwardly in the direction ofthe arrow 6 to the position as shown in FIGURE 1, the flame is ignited and when the cover is pivoted back in the direction of the arrow 8, the flame is extinguished. This latter operation may be carried 'out automatically by means of a return spring which closes the cover 2 when the thumb is removed from it.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the hinged cover 2 is provided with an inner lining 9 which carries on one side the hinge 3 and has on its opposite side, that is, on the side of the actuating surface 4, a projection i1-6. The fuel nozzle, for example, a gas nozzle, which is indicated at 14 is provided with a disk 13 which, when the cover 2 is closed, holds the nozzles 14 in the closed position by means of a resilient bifurcated member 1S. For regulating the fuel supply an adjusting wheel 12 is provided. When the cover 2 is pivoted upwardly, the bifurcated member 15 releases the disk 13 so that the latter is lifted by a spring, not shown, from the nozzle .14 and then permits the fuel, for example, a gas, to pass out of the nozzle i14.

The ignition of the gas occurs by a spark which is produced lwhen the cover 2 is pivoted upwardly. The flint 21 for producing the spark is located Iwithin a tube 20. As shown in FIGURE 3, this tube 20 carries a U-shaped element 22 in which the shaft 23 of the friction of ignition wheel 24 is nonrotatably mounted. The friction wheel 24 which is rotatable on shaft 23 is provided at one side with saw-tooth serrations 25 into which the tongue 26 of a coupling disk 27 engages which is likewise mounted on shaft 23 and connects the friction wheel 24 to a drum 29 'which is also mounted on shaft 23. Coupling disk 27 is rigidly secured to drum 29 by means of a bent-over tab 28. This coupling disk 27 as well as the drum 29 are rotatable on shaft 23. Drum 29 contains a coil spring 30 one end of Iwhich is secured to drum 29, while its other end is secured to shaft 23. The peripheral surface of drum 29 is provided with a notch 31, as shown in FIGURE 2, which has an edge 32 extending radially to the axis of the drum and into which the tooth 35 of a pawl 36 engages which is pivotably mounted at 33 on the cover 2 and pressed into the notch 3|1 by a leaf spring 34 which is secured to the top wall 5 of the cover 2. Drum 29 is further provided with a stop 29' which determines the position of the notch 31, 32 in drum 29 when the cover 2 is closed and the stop 29 engages upon the lower part 1 of the lighter. In this position, spring 30 still possesses a certain initial tension.

If by a pressure upon the actuating surface 4 in the direction of the arrow 19 the cover 2 is lifted, pawl 36 remains at first under the pressure of spring 34 and thus carries out a movement in the upward direction up to the dotted-line position 32 where the tooth 35 of pawl 36 disengages from the notch 31 because of its inclined position and thus again releases the drum 29. The movement of drum 29 to the position 32 tightens the spring 30 which, as soon as the drum is again released, drives the friction wheel 24 by means of the coupling disk 27 so that a spank is produced. This spark then ignites the gas emerging from the nozzle 14, and the flame may then pass to the outside through the outlet opening 7 in the top wall of the cover. The open position of cover 2 `when the ame is ignited is limited by a stop member 18 which preferably consists of a tooth on the upper end of a leaf spring `17 which is secured to the bottom of the cover. As soon as the projection 16 on cover 2 hits against this tooth 18, cover 2 is in its operative position as illustrated in FIGURE 1 in which the llame is lit and passes through the opening 7 in cover 2 which is then located directly above the nozzle 14. In this position of the cover, the flame is accessible from all sides without being affected in any manner by the opened cover 2.

When the operator releases the hinged cover 2, the latter is automatically closed by a return spring 10.

Leaf spring 17 is preferably designed so that its tooth 18 may be disengaged from the projection 16 in such a manner that, when the cover 2 is in its normal open operative position and is pressed further upwardly, the projection 16 will slide off the tooth 18 and permit the cover to be tilted up entirely for cleaning the lighter or to carry out repairs thereon.

Pawl 35, 36 may also be released by providing its end adjacent to the tooth 35 with a lateral pin 37 which is adapted to abut against a nose 38 which is secured to the cover. In this case, the surface 32 of notch 31 in drum 29 does not have to be of any particular shape. In addition pawl 36 and nose 38 are preferably provided with guide elements for insuring that, when the cover 2 is being closed, especially after being opened entirely, the pawl will be pressed back to its original position. These guide elements may be of a very simple construction and consist of a lateral pin 40 on the cover 2 and an angular nose 38, 39.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a modification of the invention in which in place of the drum 29 a segment 43 is provided which is pivotably mounted on the housing at 42 and has an arcuate outer surface 41 with a notch 31 near its lower end into which similarly as in FIGURE 2 the tooth 35 of pawl 36 may engage which by sliding off the surface 32 or by abutting against the nose 38, 39 will be disengaged from the notch 31. Segment 43 is pivotably connected at 44 by an arm 44 to a driving rod 46 which is acted upon by a spring 45 and forms a part of a device 47, not shown, in detail, for lighting the ame at 48 by magnetoelectric or piezoelectric means.

FIGURE 5 shows a further modification of the invention in which a rac-k 49 engages with a pinion 51 which is connected in the manner as described to the friction wheel 24 by means of the coupling disk 27. The cover 2 is pressed against the lighter by a leaf spring 53 the trapezoidal end 52 of which engages upon the projection 16 on the cover. When the cover 2 is pivoted upwardly, the force of this spring must rst be overcome so that a greater force must first be exerted at the beginning of the lifting movement and the remainder of this movement will then be accelerated. Rack 49 then drives the pinion 51 directly and thus the friction wheel 24 at the necessary speed to produce the spark.

The return spring 10 according to this embodiment of the invention has one end secured to the bottom of a cup 54 which projects into the lower part 1 of the lighter and another end which is secured to the top wall of the cover 2. The manner of mounting the return spring 10 which, of course, may also be applied in a similar manner in all other embodiments permits the use of a spring with a level characteristic which has the necessary elasticity especially when the cover 2 is fully opened beyond the stop `18.

FIGURE 6 `shows another embodiment of the invention in which the return spring 55 is pin-shaped and rigidly connected to the hinged cover 2 at 56. The other end 57 of spring 55 engages upon the lower side of the stop projection 18 on leaf spring 17. When the cover is opened, the projection 16 therefore hits against the lower side of the end 57 of spring 55. The hinge 3 of the cover of this lighter is not secured to the inner lining 9 but to the cover 2 itself.

FIGURE 7 shows a side view of the ignition device according to FIGURE 6. Shaft 59 is rotatably mounted in the U-shaped element 22 in a similar manner as shown in FIGURE 3, but spring 30 is secured to one end directly to the mounting element 22 and at its other end to the shaft 59. Spring 30 is also located at the side of the friction wheel 24 opposite to that facing the coupling disk 27, that is, between the friction wheel 24 and the arm 22 of the U-shaped mounting element 22. Coupling disk 27 is connected to a drive member 60 to which a leaf spring 61 is secured in a manner so as to engage between the teeth of pinion 51 when the latter tends to turn in the direction of rotation of friction wheel 24. Pinion 51 engages with rack 49 in such a manner that the latter will disengage from this pinion shortly before the rack reaches the stop 18 when the cover 2 is pivoted upwardly. When the cover 2 is being lifted, rack 49 and pinion 51 will at first tighten the spring 30. As soon as the rack 49 disengages from the pinion, spring 30 will drive the friction wheel 24 on shaft 59 and will thus produce a spark. During this rotation, pinion 51 is held arrested by spring 61 and will therefore not participate in the return movement.-

In the embodiment of the invention as'illustrated in FIGURE 8, the cover 2 is movable at both sides around pins 63 which in the closed position engage into corresponding apertures 62 in the inner lining 9'of cover 2. Accordingly, both narrow sides of the cover are, of course, provided with actuating surfaces 4, and two leaf springs 17 with stop rojections 18 are likewise provided. The cover 2 of this lighter may therefore be actuated on both sides. The fuel outlet is in this case provided in the form of a so-called draw valve the nozzle 14 of which is gripped by laterally resilient bifurcated-member 64. This member 64 may be released from the nozzle 14 when the stop 18 is disengaged by a rhomboid projection 65 which is secured to the cover. The movement of cover 2 is transmitted by two disks `66 to a segment 68 which is pivotably mounted at 67 and may be in engagement with a pinion 51 or act upon a drum '-29 with a pawl.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention .l which is likewise provided with a cover 2 which is movableA at both sides. The bifurcated member 1'5 presses'upon the Valve disk 13 and holds this valve in the closed position when the cover 2 is closed. The return spring forms a resilient bow 69 which by its part 70 is removably connected to the cover. When the cover is being vactuated and the leaf spring 17 is being bent, the latter presses at 74 against the arms 73 of spring 69 and shifts the same in the longitudinal direction. In order to--in'sure that the bow-shaped spring 69 will disengage when the cover is completely opened, it is provided with notches 72. The pawl 36 as already described is connectedto an arm 76 which is pivotable at 75 and, as 'shown' in FIGURE 10, is located between two stop projections 77 which are secured on the cover 2. The lower stop ofthese projections has an inclined surface 78 which guides the spring `69 over the stops 77 when the cover is being closed. In order to limit the bending of spring 69, a stop 79, as shown in FIGURE 9 may be provided.

FIGURE ll illustrates a very simple construction of the pawl 36 which is especially adapted for a magnetoelectric ignition. Pawl 36 is pivotably mounted at 33 directly on fthe drawing device 46 and in the closed position of the cover engages behind a Isaw-toothed member 80 on cover 2 if the latter is pivotable at one side at 3. If the cover is to be actuated at both sides, this member 80 is secured to an arm 78, as indicated in dotted lines, which is pivotable at 75. The pivoting movement of pawl 36 is limited by a stop 81. When the cover is pivoted upwardly, the member 80 disengages from the end 35 of pawl 36 which is held in a xed position by the stop 81 and can onlymove upwardly. In addition, the pawl may also carry out a pivoting movement by being provided with an inclined edge 36' which is adapted to move agalnst the stop 81. l FIGURE l2 illustrates the contact device for an mcandescent ignition operated by a battery current. The circuit leads to two opposite leaf-spring contacts 82. The cover 2-carries on an insulated leaf spring 83 an intermediate contact 84 which when the cover 2 is' pivoted upwardly connects the two contacts 82 electrlcally to each other.

FIGURE 13 shows by a cross section of the cover 2 a possibility of closing the ame passage 7. When. the cover is closed, this flame passage 7 is closed by a pa1r of cover parts 85 which are provided with mclmed outer sides. These cover parts 85 are mounted on leat springs 86 which move the cover parts to the open posrtlon, the position occupied by one of the leaf springs 86 when the cover is opened is shown in dotted lines. The inner edges of the cover are ypreferably beveled as s hown at 88 Iso as to insure that the cover parts 85 will be moved toward each other to the closed position when the hinged cover 2 is being closed.

FIGURE 14 nally illustrates diagrammatically a very simple ignition device in which a drag spring is employed. By the` pivoting movement ofthe cover the spring 91 whlch is held arrested by the tooth 93 and is thereby tightened is bent to such an extent as indicated by dotted line-s that it will disengage from the tooth 93 and therefore snap upwardly and take along the pivotable arm'44 for the ignition device at the required speed. Spring 91 is bent over at 92 so as also to be resiliently movable in the longitudinal direction so that the free end of the spring will slide past the inclined surface of tooth -93 and then engage with the latter when the cover is closed.

Cover 2 need not necessarily be hinged at its lower end at 3 as shown at some of the drawings, but it is just as well possible to secure the hinge 3 to the upper wall 5 of the cover. Furthermore, it is also possible to actuate the cover 2 by a translatory movement so that the -cover is not pivoted but shifted. In this case, the cover 2 should be mounted at both sides on rollers.

In some cases it may be of advantage if the adjusting wheel 12 is accessible from the outside. This wheel `12 may then project laterally through the cover when closed.

It will be evident from the various embodiments of the invention that the manner in which the lighter operates is of no particular importance insofar as the invention is applicable to lighters which operate with a gas as well as to lighters which are ignited by magnetoelectric or piezoelectric means.

The present invention results in a lighter which is very simple and practical, may be ignited and opened by a single movement, and permits access to the ame from all sides. Furthermore, the cover may be easily opened to such an extent that the fuel nozzle and the ignition device will be easily accessible `for cleaning or for carrying out repairs.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, I wish to have it understood that it is in no Way limited to the details of such embodiments but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention, what I claim 1s:

1. A lighter comprising:

a body means having a burner means and a burner ignition means mounted therein;

a cover means having an upper surface for covering the burner means and the ignition means and having a lateral surface; means mounting the cover means on the body means for movement from a lower position in which it covers said burner and ignition means to an upper position spaced from the lower position in response to pressure placed upon said lateral side of the cover means;

stop means for holding the cover means in said upper position; K means on the 4inside of the cover mea-ns for actuating the ignition means during said movement from the lower position to the upper position;

said cover means having a tlame outlet opening therein located at a point on its upper surface which is above the burner means when the cover means is in the said upper position.

2. A lighter as defined in claim 1, characterized by the fact that:

the mounting means include means mounting the cover means for movement above said upper position; and means for moving said stop means out of blocking position whereby the cover means may be moved above said upper position.

3. A lighter as defined in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the stopping means include at least one leaf spring, and a cooperating projection on the lower inner edge of the side of the cover forming the actuating surface or surfaces.

4. A lighter as defined in claim 1, including means for storing the energy which is exerted when the cover is being opened, and means utilizing said stored energy for operating the ignition means. v

5. A lighter as delined in claim `4, characterized `by the fact that the energy-storing means are springs `and means connecting the springs to the ignition means including a coupling disk and a friction wheel provided with saw-toothed serrations into which a tongue on the coupling disk engages.

6. A lighter as defined in claim 4, characterized by the fact that the energy-storing means include a drum which is mounted for rotation, means connecting the drum to the cover for movement therewith including a pawl, and means mounting the pawl to transmit the movement of the cover to the spring.

7. A lighter as detined in claim 4, characterized by the fact that the energy-storing means includes a spring acting up'on a disk segment which is pivoted to the body means and releasably held by a pawl pivoted to the cover.

8. A lighter as defined in vclaim 4, characterized by the fact that means utilizing the stored energy for operating the ignition means include a pawl having a lateral pin thereon mounted for movement with the cover towards the stop means and means releasing the energystoring means upon movement of the pin against the stop means.

9. A lighter as defined in claim `8, characterized by the fact that the energy-storing means includes an element pivoted for movement with the cover, having a notch therein which has such an inclined surface that the end of the pawl will disengage therefrom when the cover is opened to its upper position. l

10. A lighter as defined in claim 9, characterized by the fact that the energy storage means includes stop means mounted on the cover adjacent the pawl for limiting movement of the pawl while the cover is being closed, and for guiding the-pawl back into engagement with said notch.

11. A lighter as dened in claim 7, characterized by the fact that the connection means includes a spring-ac'- tuated drive rod mounted on the body means, and a pivotable arm connecting said disk segment and said rod.

12. A lighter as defined in claim 11, characterized by the fact that the means actuating the ignition means includes a rack which engages with a pinion to drive a spark-producing friction wheel.

13. A lighter as defined in claim 12, characterized by the fact that the ignition actuating means includes means driving the pinion directly at the speed required for producing a spark, and a leaf spring having a trapezoidal end engaging a projection on the cover to press the cover against the lower part of the lighter so that the force which is required for lifting the coveris consideratblyincreased at the beginning of the lifting movement to there- =by drive the friction wheel at a greater speed.

14. A lighter as defined in claim 1, characterized by the fact that spring means for returning the cover to its initial position are provided. v

15. A lighter as `defined in claim 14, characterized by the fact that the return spring is located in a cup-shaped recess in the lower part of the lighter whereby the spring has a level characteristic.

16. A lighter as defined in claim 14, characterized by the fact that the return spring comprises a rod having one end rigidly connected to the cover and another end engaging behind the stop.

17. A lighter as defined in claim 14, characterized by the fact that the return spring comprises a bow which is provided with notches.

18. A lighter as defined in claim 1, characterized by the fact that two cover parts` for the ame outlet opening are included each of which is mounted on a leaf spring, and means mounting the cover parts for movement from a position in which they cover the flame outlet when the cover is closed to a position in which the flame outlet is uncovered when the cover is open.

19. A lighter `as defined in claim 18, characterized by the fact that the inner corners of the lighter cover are inclined to form cam means for closing the flame` outlet cover parts when the lighter'cover is closed.

20. A lighter as defined in claim y,1, characterized by the fact that the adjusting wheel for the fuel supplypro-y jects laterally through the lighter cover.

21. A lighter as defined in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said ignition means include two outer leaf-4 spring contacts and an intermediate contact and means mounting the outer contacts on one of the body means and the cover means, and the intermediate contact on the other of said means, in a position such that 'they are electrically isolated from each other when the cover is closed and during the cover opening movement become conductively connected.'

22. A lighter as defined in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the ignition means includes a dragspring and a pivotable arm, and means connecting the' spring and arm to the body means for moving them and producing a ame'when the cover is opened.

23. A lighter as defined, in claim 4, characterized by the fact that the energy storing means includes a rod, spring means mounting the rod for reciprocal movement on the body means, a pawl pivoted to the rod, and cam means mounted on the cover and engaging with the pawl when the cover is opened to pull the rod against the action of the spring and then release it.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS EDWARD I. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner.'

U.S. Cl. X.R. 431-137 

